Any Book Suggestions?

oliverkid

Member
Im taking an AG history class at Purdue that I have to write a final paper and the topic im choosing is the history of mechanical harvesting. I want do cover everything from reapers and corn binders up to rotary combines. Any of you guys know of any good books that may help me out with the research?
 
I've got a book entitled "American Farm Implements & Antiques" by CH Wendel, it lists a bunch of old implements and tells the companies that made them and the starting year. Has some good info about the different brands, the book is out of production and quite pricy, I would be glad to send you scanned pages, if you will open your e-mail I will send you the contents and you can see if there is an implement you need info on.
 
"Bonanza Farming" (I think there was another book called "Day of the Bonanza") will give you some insight on how they tried to farm big with small equipment. That required lots of mules and horses and men to drive them.

My Mom recalled seeing one large bonanza farm moving 100 teams of horses and binders past her Dad's farm. Must of been something to see.
 
"Plow Peddler", by Walter M Buescher, is a simple little book telling one persons story of working for AC mid 30's to the mid 70's. I knew All Crop harvesters were popular. He claims they had half the market.

Interesting stories appear like- Henry Ford buying something like a dozen All Crop harvesters a year, for his vast acreages and beloved soybeans.
 
A Book I have is "100 Years of Implement & Tractor" It covers some stories and has many adds for harvesting equipment. I don't think I have your phone number anymore.
 
Definitely "the Grain Harvesters" as mentioned below. That would be your most complete reference.

Will get you from hand tools till approximately 1980 in amazing detail.
 
"The Dream Reaper" by Craig Canine gives a good history of harvesting equipment from the scythe through the modern-day combine. It also mixes in the story of Mark Underwood, a Kansas farm boy who, with his cousin and several others, developed the Bi-Rotor combine in the early 1990s. Quicke's book is very good too.
 
MBI (Motor Books International) in Wisconsin used to publish a lot of books on farm equipment amount other things. Once you know an ISBN number most public libraries can locate a copy of most any book.
 
If you are interested in the Custom Harvesting part for your project, try the book by Tom Isern, "Custom Harvesting on the Great Plains".

The harvesting equipment sections of several books available from the ASAE may give you good info.

ASAE is American Society of Agricultural Engineers. They are in St Joseph, MI and probably easy to find via a website search engine.
 

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